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only we must keep quiet about it。〃
This long speech gave Lurida's perfervid brain time to cool off a
little。 She left the paper with the doctor； telling him she would
come for it the next day； and went off to tell the result of this
visit to her bosom friend； Miss Euthymia Tower。
XV
DR。 BUTTS CALLS ON EUTHYMIA。
The doctor was troubled in thinking over his interview with the young
lady。 She was fully possessed with the idea that she had discovered
the secret which had defied the most sagacious heads of the village。
It was of no use to oppose her while her mind was in an excited
state。 But he felt it his duty to guard her against any possible
results of indiscretion into which her eagerness and her theory of
the equality； almost the identity； of the sexes might betray her。
Too much of the woman in a daughter of our race leads her to forget
danger。 Too little of the woman prompts her to defy it。 Fortunately
for this last class of women； they are not quite so likely to be
perilously seductive as their more emphatically feminine sisters。
Dr。 Butts had known Lurida and her friend from the days of their
infancy。 He had watched the development of Lurida's intelligence
from its precocious nursery…life to the full vigor of its trained
faculties。 He had looked with admiration on the childish beauty of
Euthymia； and had seen her grow up to womanhood； every year making
her more attractive。 He knew that if anything was to be done with
his self…willed young scholar and friend； it would be more easily
effected through the medium of Euthymia than by direct advice to the
young lady herself。 So the thoughtful doctor made up his mind to
have a good talk with Euthymia； and put her on her guard； if Lurida
showed any tendency to forget the conventionalities in her eager
pursuit of knowledge。
For the doctor's horse and chaise to stop at the door of Miss
Euthymia Tower's parental home was an event strange enough to set all
the tongues in the village going。 This was one of those families
where illness was hardly looked for among the possibilities of life。
There were other families where a call from the doctor was hardly
more thought of than a call from the baker。 But here he was a
stranger； at least on his professional rounds； and when he asked for
Miss Euthymia the servant； who knew his face well； stared as if he
had held in his hand a warrant for her apprehension。
Euthymia did not keep the doctor waiting very long while she made
ready to meet him。 One look at her glass to make sure that a lock
had not run astray； or a ribbon got out of place； and her toilet for
a morning call was finished。 Perhaps if Mr。 Maurice Kirkwood had
been announced； she might have taken a second look； but with the good
middle…aged； married doctor one was enough for a young lady who had
the gift of making all the dresses she wore look well； and had no
occasion to treat her chamber like the laboratory where an actress
compounds herself。
Euthymia welcomed the doctor very heartily。 She could not help
suspecting his errand； and she was very glad to have a chance to talk
over her friend's schemes and fancies with him。
The doctor began without any roundabout prelude。
〃I want to confer with you about our friend Lurida。 Does she tell
you all her plans and projects？〃
〃Why； as to that； doctor； I can hardly say； positively； but I do not
believe she keeps back anything of importance from me。 I know what
she has been busy with lately； and the queer idea she has got into
her head。 What do you think of the Tarantula business？ She has
shown you the paper； she has written； I suppose。〃
〃Indeed she has。 It is a very curious case she has got hold of； and
I do not wonder at all that she should have felt convinced that she
had come at the true solution of the village riddle。 It may be that
this young man is the same person as the boy mentioned in the Italian
medical journal。 But it is very far from clear that he is so。 You
know all her reasons； of course； as you have read the story。 The
times seem to agree well enough。 It is easy to conceive that Ch
might be substituted for Kin the report。 The singular solitary
habits of this young man entirely coincide with the story。 If we
could only find out whether he has any of those feelings with
reference to certain colors； we might guess with more chance of
guessing right than we have at present。 But I don't see exactly how
we are going to submit him to examination on this point。 If he were
only a chemical compound； we could analyze him。 If he were only a
bird or a quadruped； we could find out his likes and dislikes。 But
being； as he is； a young man； with ways of his own； and a will of his
own； which he may not choose to have interfered with； the problem
becomes more complicated。 I hear that a newspaper correspondent has
visited him so as to make a report to his paper；do you know what he
found out？〃
〃Certainly I do； very well。 My brother has heard his own story；
which was this： He found out he had got hold of the wrong person to
interview。 The young gentleman； he says； interviewed him； so that he
did not learn much about the Sphinx。 But the newspaper man told
Willy about the Sphinx's library and a cabinet of coins he had； and
said he should make an article out of him； anyhow。 I wish the man
would take himself off。 I am afraid Lurida's love of knowledge will
get her into trouble！〃
〃Which of the men do you wish would take himself off？〃
〃I was thinking of the newspaper man。〃
She blushed a little as she said； 〃I can't help feeling a strange
sort of interest about the other； Mr。 Kirkwood。 Do you know that I
met him this morning； and had a good look at him； full in the face？〃
〃Well； to be sure！ That was an interesting experience。 And how did
you like his looks？〃
〃I thought his face a very remarkable one。 But he looked very pale
as he passed me； and I noticed that he put his hand to his left side
as if he had a twinge of pain； or something of that sort；spasm or
neuralgia；I don't know what。 I wondered whether he had what you
call angina pectoris。 It was the same kind of look and movement； I
remember； as you trust； too； in my uncle who died with that
complaint。〃
The doctor was silent for a moment。 Then he asked； 〃Were you dressed
as you are now？〃
〃Yes； I was； except that I had a thin mantle over my shoulders。 I
was out early； and I have always remembered your caution。〃
〃What color was your mantle？〃
〃It was black。 I have been over all this with Lucinda。 A black
mantle on a white dress。 A straw hat with an old faded ribbon。
There can't be much in those colors to trouble him； I should think；
for his man wears a black coat and white linen；more or less white；
as you must have noticed； and he must have seen ribbons of all colors
often enough。 But Lurida believes it was the ribbon； or something in
the combination of colors。 Her head is full of Tarantulas and
Tarantism。 I fear that she will never be easy until the question is
settled by actual trial。 And will you believe it？ the girl is
determined in some way to test her supposition！〃
〃Believe it； Euthymia？ I can believe almost anything of Lurida。 She
is the most irrepressible creature I ever knew。 You know as well as
I do what a complete possession any ruling idea takes of her whole
nature。 I have had some fears lest her zeal might run away with her
discretion。 It is a great deal easier to get into a false position
than to get out of it。〃
〃I know it well enough。 I want you to tell me what you think about
the whole business。 I don't like the look of it at all； and yet I
can do nothing with the girl except let her follow her fancy； until I
can show her plainly that she will get herself into trouble in some
way or other。 But she is ingenious；full of all sorts of devices；
innocent enough in themselves； but liable to be misconstrued。 You
remember how she won us the boat…race？〃
〃To be sure I do。 It was rather sharp practice； but she felt she was
paying off an old score。 The classical story of Atalanta； told； like
that of Eve； as illustrating the weakness of woman； provoked her to
make trial of the powers of resistance in the other sex。 But it was
audacious。 I hope her audacity will not go too far。 You must watch
her。 Keep an eye on her correspondence。〃
The doctor had great confidence in the good sense of Lurida's friend。
He felt sure that she would not let Lurida commit herself by writing
foolish letters to the subject of her speculations； or similar
indiscreet performances。 The boldness of young girls； who think no
evil； in opening correspondence with idealized personages is
something quite astonishing to those who have had an opportunity of
knowing the facts。 Lurida had passed the most dangerous age； but her
theory of the equality of the se